Its main economic activities are trade and tourism, being one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain.

Its landscape is dominated by the bay of La Concha, as well as modern architectural development initiated in the second half of the nineteenth century that shaped a city and bourgeois French style, led to the development of tourism at European level.

All this, together with international events like the International Film Festival of San Sebastián, has outreach to the city, despite its small size. San Sebastian is currently European Capital of Culture.